Rodriguez faces steep climb back to title

Published 12:19 am, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

DANBURY -- Delvin Rodriguez is back at square one, his opportunity of a lifetime lost.

After the Danbury boxer's brutal 12-round split-decision loss to South African Isaac Hlatshwayo for the IBF Welterweight Championship of the World at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville Saturday, Rodriguez's future is suddenly in flux.

The outcome was a tough for anyone in Rodriguez's camp to swallow, but it appeared to be the right one.

Despite a bloody lip and a swollen eye, Hlatshwayo (29-1-1, 10 KOs) was the stronger fighter -- especially after surviving an early round flurry by Rodriguez (24-3-2, 14 KOs).

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The 31-year-old South African landed several punches that left Rodriguez stumbling and in the 10th round Rodriguez appeared so woozy that he spun himself around after failing to connect with a right hook.

Still, Rodriguez's biggest error was letting the match go to the judges.

He backed off late after trainer Lou Fusco told him they were winning on the judges' scorecards.

It proved a costly miscalculation, both in the short and long term.

Not only did Rodriguez lose the IBF belt Saturday, but he also lost out on a possible unification bout against WBC champion Andre Berto on HBO in December.

Rodriguez's trainer Stan Hoffman said Sunday he is hopeful that matchup may still happen, but odds are it won't.

Rodriguez, a native of the Dominican Republic who recently became a U.S. citizen, is the equivalent to a dangerous mid-major in college basketball. To a top-five fighter like Berto, Rodriguez is too dangerous because the Danbury boxer has the skills to pull the upset.

Meanwhile, if Berto takes care of Rodriguez all he gets is a pat on the back -- and maybe a nice chunk of change. If Rodriguez has a belt, however, he would be well worth to risk.

To top it off, Berto's promoter Lou DiBella was at Saturday's fight and has already told ESPN.com that he intends to talk to Hlatshwayo's people about a unification bout.

Despite the setback Rodriguez still has plenty of good boxing in him.

At 29, Rodriguez is in the prime of his career, but after 11 years of punishment at the professional level there is no telling when he will pass his peak.

The elephant in the room is whether Rodriguez has the time and the respect to earn another title shot.

Rodriguez hardly seemed his confident self after Saturday's defeat only saying, "I hope so," when asked if he thought he would land another title fight.

The best answer anyone, including Hoffman, can give is it depends.

One thing is certain: Rodriguez won't have a shot like the one he had Saturday with a tremendous home-field advantage. From now on, if he wants to fight for a belt, he'll likely have to pack his bags to do it.

"We will have to wait and see," Hoffman said Sunday night. "I love this kid (Rodriguez), so I'm going to make sure I do whatever I can to make sure he has a great career."

Hoffman traditionally has been Rodriguez's biggest cheerleader. The fact that he didn't say his fighter could get another shot at a belt, says a lot.

The veteran trainer is right about one thing. Rodriguez may still have a great career -- aka make a lot of money.

But his chances at another championship could weigh on the generosity of the IBF or another major boxing organization (WBC, WBO, WBA).

Before the fight, Rodriguez was the IBF's No. 2 ranked welterweight, but he could drop out of the top five after the loss.

That would be an absolute injustice, especially since his defeat came by a tough split decision.

Nevertheless, former IBF champion Joshua Clottey dropped from the champion to the No. 5 slot after voluntarily vacating his belt.

It's not impossible to imagine Rodriguez falling further.

Where ever Rodriguez lands his road back won't be easy, both emotionally and physically.

Hoffman confirmed Rodriguez's right hand, the same hand he initially injured in his first fight with Hlatshwayo, was bothering him.

It's an injury, however, Rodriguez and Hoffman know he must learn to live with. But Rodriguez biggest obstacle is likely mental as he prepares to begin another long journey back up the mountain.

He's got to find the motivation to endure the necessary beatings if he ever wants to see the top again.